LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Clippers beat the Minnesota Timberwoves Wednesday night at the Staples Center, a 111-95 triumph that solidified the Clippers' chances of having homecourt advantage in the opening round of the NBA playoffs that begin on April 20.

With an improved 52-26 record, the Pacific Division champion Clippers are ranked No.4 in the Western Conference Division, one game ahead of the No.5 Memphis Grizzlies (53-25) and two games behind the No.3 Denver Nuggets (54-24). If the rankings stay the same when the regular season ends of April 17, the Clippers wrestle with the Grizzlies in a seven-game series.

"You want to be playing your best basketball down the stretch. I think we've really made it a point last seven or so games to play with a lot of energy, to play with a lot of pace and try to get on track," Los Angeles Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro told NBA.com.